#1 Maryland Tops Defending Champ Princeton, 3-1

Maryland Athletics

10-11-2013

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Top-ranked Maryland field hockey topped the defending national champion Princeton Tigers, 3-1, Friday night in College Park. Senior Jill Witmer led an offensive charge late in the first half that carried into the second with two goals.

“This was a very athletic game,” head coach Missy Meharg said. “Princeton is such a well-coached team and they certainly have the experience of being national champions. That can take you a long way. This was not the team we saw on video preparing for this match. I’m just proud of the Maryland team for bringing out the best in Princeton’s squad today.”

After a back and forth first half, Maryland (13-0, 3-0 ACC) finally broke through with just over a minute to go before halftime. Senior Ali McEvoy sent a long pass to the forward line from the midfield line. Witmer corralled it, shot and then scored off her own rebounded shot that was saved to put the Terps up 1-0 with 1:19 left in the first period.

Maryland, the nation’s top offense, kept its spark alive and scored twice in the first three minutes of the second half for a 3-0 lead. Sixty-four seconds after halftime, junior Maxine Fluharty sent a hard shot in from the top of the circle and redshirt freshman Emma Rissinger deflected it in from the left post.

Just under two minutes later, Witmer deflected in sophomore Sarah Sprink’s long hit from the right side for a three-goal lead.

Princeton, which is ranked No. 9 in the latest poll, got on the board in the 49th minute when Maddie Copeland got one to trickle over the line past Terps goalie Natalie Hunter.

Each team took 10 shots in the match. Hunter and Princeton keeper Anya Gersoff each notched six saves.

With her two goals Friday, Witmer is tied for No. 5 on Maryland’s all-time scoring list with 60 career goals. She is tied with Susie Rowe and Caroline Walter.

The game was Maryland field hockey’s annual Pride game, in which student-athletes, coaches and staff attended to show support for the Terps.